If My People.....
GUEST BLOGGER: Shirley Andersen
“ If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
I love this scripture because it’s plain. God says If you, Then, I will.
There are many people that say I don’t understand the Bible when they read it. Plain and simply the Bible says the unlearned and ignorant man perceives not the words of God. Acts 4:13. The unsaved don’t understand the Bible like those that are saved and want to learn about God’s Word, daily seeking and praying and wanting to learn the Bible. The use of commentaries and Bible Dictionary or Concordance can help understand difficult passages. But this one is extremely plain and tells you just what to do. We ask through prayer, God answers our prayer when they:
1. Humble themselves
2. Pray
3. Seek God’s face
4. Turn from their wicked ways
Then
5. God will hear from heaven will forgive their sin
6. heal their land
There is something naturally humble in true prayer because it recognizes that the answers are not in ourself but they are in God. The phrase. “My people who are called by my name” was first for the people of Israel. The same God who made this promise to Israel still reigns in the heavens and will still respond to his humble praying people today.
It says in II Chronicles 6:32-33, “all people of the earth may know your name “ and fear. You as do your people Israel. It’s clear that anyone who acknowledges God’s name and authority may pray with the confidence of God hearing. This passage is similar to others where the invitation is to all who call upon the name of the Lord.
This promise of answered prayer also includes the condition of repentance. As the people of God humble themselves, pray, seek the face of God, they must also turn from their wicked ways. It wasn’t enough to turn their heart to God; they must also turn their life to God. God simply promises to hear the prayer of his humble prayerful seeking repentant people. He will bring forgiveness to his people and healing to their land. These expressions are best understood as four parts of one attitude, that sinners should seek God himself in humble repentance.
II Chronicles 12:6, Rehoboam and leaders of Israel humbled themselves.
II Chronicles 30:18, Hezekiah prayed for the uncleared people of the North. “May God provide atonement for everyone who prepares his heart to seek God. The Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.
II Chronicles 11:16, The Levite’s left their common land and came to Jerusalem because Jeroboam would let them serve as priests. So after the Levites left those that wanted to seek the Lord were able to.
II Chronicles 30 : 6, If Israel would return to the Lord, your brethren and children will be treated with compassion by those who lead them captive, so that they may turn from their wicked ways, for the Lord God is gracious and merciful and will not turn his face from you.
God answered their prayer as he does all prayers when he heard from heaven, forgave their sin and healed their land. God wants the right actions from us and there are many guidelines throughout God’s word as to what He wants us to do and how to live.
Another reason I love this verse beside it being very clear what we are to do and how God answers. This was the first verse that Andy (my late husband ) and I memorized during the Bible Study and prayer time we ended our dates with. Times have changed and I’m sure things like praying together and reading the Bible together are foreign concepts nowadays. That’s how we started dating, putting God first. God blessed us in so many tremendous ways. In 37 years Andy always had a church to Pastor and preach in. We had 2 remarkable kids, the most talented and beautiful grandkids, and loving daughter-in-law. I’m blessed to be able to have a ministry in my church.
2 Chronicles 7:14, Simply it’s how we should live, humbly praying, seeking God’s face and turning away from our wicked ways.